Blasphemy suspect killed in ‘encounter’ with Mirpurkhas police

HYDERABAD: A suspect was killed, while another escaped, when police retaliated upon being fired at on Wednesday night during snap checking near Sindhari city, Mirpurkhas police claimed on Thursday.

The deceased suspect was identified as Dr Shahnawaz Kumbhar, who was named in a blasphemy case registered in Umerkot. The body of the blasphemy suspect was shifted to Civil Hospital, and after medical examination, was sent to relatives in Umerkot, but they didn’t receive it.

A case of blasphemy was registered against the suspect in Umerkot on September 17 for allegedly sharing “obscene” material on social media. After the incident, protest and arson started in Umerkot on the eve of 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal.

After the killing, neither a press conference was held nor a press release was issued to explain the details.

The HRCP said it is gravely concerned at the “extrajudicial killing” of the blasphemy accused in Umerkot during a police raid. This pattern of violence in cases of blasphemy, in which law enforcement personnel are allegedly involved, is an alarming trend. The HRCP demanded the government conduct an independent inquiry into the incident.